Garbage Monster: How many times have you -- and your kids -- heard Tom Knight's iconic song? If the answer is lots, as it is for me, your family might want to enter his Garbage Monster contest. The idea is to submit a drawing or photograph of what the monster might look like. The winner's rendition will become the inspiration for a costume or puppet Tom will use in a video of the song. Get all the details at Tom's site. The deadline is Aug. 23.
Not familiar with the song? Read the lyrics here.

Child health: All in all, it's a pretty good time to be a kid, according to the study, "Trends in Infancy/Early Childhood and Middle Childhood Well-Being." Fewer children are dying in childhood and fewer are lead-poisoned. Fewer moms are smoking while pregnant, more kids are going to all-day kindergarten and test scores are on the rise. But child obesity is increasing and the number of low-birth-weight babies are up, too. Read the full study.

Fetal-alcohol disorder: The state Office of Children & Family Services is offering a teleconference on the prenatal effects of alcohol on children. It is for people, such as social services caseworkers, who work with families where children may have been exposed to alcohol in the womb. The broadcast is 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 22 over closed-captioned TV. Downlink sites are planned for the Department of Social Services in Cayuga, Madison and Onondaga counties and the Oswego County Office Building. Find out details here.